Nova Scotia’s Read to Me! program has created a new resource just in time for Family Literacy Day.

Read to Me! celebrates family reading, and provides books and reading resources for every baby born in Nova Scotia.

This month, in partnership with the Nova Scotia Provincial Library, a new resource for parents that lists the 50 best books for babies will launch.

“It truly takes a province to raise a reader, and being able to be part of giving our youngest citizens the gift of reading is a truly powerful investment in our province,” said Tony Ince, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage.

A poster listing the 50 best books for babies will be unveiled at the provincial Family Literacy Day event Monday, Jan. 27, at the Lloyd E. Matheson Centre in Elmsdale. The provincial library is making the titles available through local libraries. Stickers will identify the books as Read to Me! selections.

“Our thanks go to the Read to Me! program for identifying the 50 best books for babies, out of so many on the market, and to the provincial library for supplying copies,” said Janet Pelley, library director, Colchester-East Hants Public Library. “These new additions to library collections will delight and benefit many babies and families throughout Nova Scotia.”

Since the program’s launch in 2002, more than 96,000 bags of books have been given to mothers and families in the province.

This year’s slogan is ‘It’s time to take 15 minutes of fun!’. Regional libraries across the province will host events, including puppet shows, readings and book giveaways.

The Read to Me! program is a non-profit, provincewide early reading promotion program in partnership with the Nova Scotia Provincial Library. Family Literacy Day is a national initiative that encourages families to share the reading experience with their children.

For information on events happening at libraries across the province, visit http://library.novascotia.ca .

Source: Release